How to manage water efficiently

Closing taps not only saves water but also money. Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

Regardless of whether it makes more sense for your business to think in terms of water footprint or water efficiency, either way makes good business sense to stem the flow. GSB asked members of Water UK and other experts for their tips on how to stop the drips, and get smart about water usage.

Understand your problem

Before you do anything else establish a benchmark by carrying out an audit. This can be done with outside help or just by taking readings of your meter at regular intervals. "If your consumption is significant, invest in data log that will return your consumption data to an electronic information dashboard," says Andy Blackhall strategy manager of Dwr Cymru Welsh Water in Cardiff. Then use this data to compare your usage with others in your sector on a like-for-like basis, he says. For example compare the average water consumption for an office with your own patterns.

Look beyond the footprint

If you want to take things further and find out the effects of your business's consumption and waste on the environment you can also get a water footprint assessment (WFA), says Derk Kuiper, executive director of Water Footprint Network in Enschede, the Netherlands. This can help identify sustainability issues associated with your operations along the supply chain. The WFA will help a business with issues that need attention. "For example, where the biggest chunk of water consumption is and where the water consumption might not be sustainable," says Kuiper.

Develop a strategy

"Understand where the negative effects of your water footprint are greatest and prioritise," says Kuiper. Define a response strategy to reduce your footprint, if it is necessary. This involves establishing which parts of your production or business are thirstiest and then determining whether the best way to reduce their consumption is to bring in water saving technologies or to simply change the way you operate. Then set reduction targets, track them and report progress, he says.

Identify leaks

Analyse your "nightline" or the lowest consumption period recorded by your meter. This will depend upon the nature of the business but usually it is at night, says Blackhall. "If there is no known consumption taking place you could have a leak," he says. Also ensure that exposed pipe work is regularly inspected, especially during winter, and that insulation is sufficient.

Spending pennies

"Make your staff aware of water costs and the effects excessive consumption may have on profits," says Blackhall. Engaging staff and making them aware that they may be trickling profits down the drain can have a huge impact, particularly on water wastage. Your local water supplier may be able to assist by providing educational material.

Recycle and reuse

Where your business model is heavily process-reliant get expert advice on how to make these processes more water efficient, says Blackhall. "Consider alternative ways of reusing what you would normally consider waste water, what is perhaps only used once for cooling purposes could also be used for cleansing processes with a relatively simple tweak to your operations," he says.

… and retrofit

Installing flow controllers, efficient taps and toilets, controllers for urinals and investing in rainwater harvesting equipment can save significant volumes of water and money when compared to uncontrolled use, says Blackhall.

Listening costs nothing

"Many water companies are now offering free advice to their business customers," says Jon Wood water conservation team leader of South West Water. After a visit to your premises you will be sent a report outlining any areas where savings could be made along with the likely costs and payback. Free toilet cistern devices which reduce the flush volumes of older large cisterns are also available. "Once improvements have been made we then award the business a Water Efficiency Certificate that they can use within their portfolio," says Wood. Typically this leads to around 25% reductions, says Wood. A secondary school in Devon was able to halve its consumption.

Plug the leaks in your cash flow

"Make the most of the enhanced capital allowance," says Blackhall. ECAs enable businesses to claim 100% on their first year capital spending to retrofit water efficiency equipment, such as infrared urinal controllers and rainwater harvesting equipment. The total cost of installing these technologies can be written off against taxable profits for that period.

Bite the bullet

Developing a water strategy can be complicated and costly, says Tim Tillson associated director of climate change and sustainability at KPMG, London. But identifying and investing in water reduction technologies will prove cheaper in the long run, especially for water-intensive industries such as the petro-chemicals. By focussing on reducing and recycling wastewater Sinopec, in China, has reduced its freshwater consumption by a quarter and its wastewater generation by nearly a third in just three years, he says.